In This Issue

DCTC Green

DCTC Green Updates

Green Tips

Quick Links

DCTC Green

UMore Park held a Sustainability Workshop on April 6 and 7 at the Rosemount Community Center. The workshop was supported by the One Planet Communities Action Plan: UMore Park Workshop Brief prepared by BioRegional, an entrepreneurial charity that initaties and delivers practical solutions regarding the best use of planetary resources. Fifty-five people, including DCTC President Ronald Thomas, spent two days working in discussion groups and breakout sessions designed to determine what UMore Park will look like in 10 years.

During the evening on April 7, President Thomas and more than 200 people attended the Sustainability Goals for the Future Community at UMore Park: A Public Forum at the Rosemount Community Center. This forum served as a consolidation of the two-day workshop results. Area residents were invited to attend the forum to learn more and share ideas about the sustainability goals for UMore's future green community. President Thomas provided a brief summary of DCTC's sustainability goals in conjunction with the region's overall green planning.

Thinking green led Architectural Technology students to create a U.S. Green Building Council Student Group at DCTC. A nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., USGBC boasts 16,000 member companies and organizations plus more than 160,000 LEED Accredited Professionals all dedicated to developing cost-wise and energy-efficient buildings in the quest for a sustainable future. Standing for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system.

The group held its first official meeting March 1, 2011, in the Student Life Center. Paul DeMuth, the college's director of operations, was the guest speaker. DeMuth talked about how DCTC has incorporated many green concepts into the daily running of the campus. DCTC has developed a 10-year Climate Action Plan that will allow the college to continue meeting its obligations (including campus climate neutrality by 2020) as a signatory of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. Goals hinge not only on integrating green best practices in campus operations, but also on developing academic programs that reflect the college's commitment by training workforces in the green technologies required for a sustainable economy and environment.

Mark Nicholson, the DCTC-USGBC Student Group’s first president, pointed out that the group will support student leaders interested in renewable energy and environmental design.

DCTC Green Updates

Green Projects and Announcements:

Emissions Update submitted to the Presidents' Climate Commitment
New LED lighting was installed in parking lots as poles and lamps were replaced
A 41-year old air handler was replaced in the boiler room to lower emissions by half
New super-green deicer is now being used for campus lots and walkways
All remodeling and construction projects are using green or recycled products when available
All demolished construction materials are recycled
Hot air compressors now have solenoid shutoff in shops

Green Tips

Tips for a Greener Office:

Look for and purchase green products such as Safe White correction fluid, staple-less staplers and pens that can be refilled repeatedly rather than sent to a landfill.
Look for and purchase products that are made from post-consumer content (materials have been collected back from previous products and remade into new ones) such as paper and plastic products. Even paper clips with post-consumer metals content are now available.
Cut down or eliminate your use of products without green alternatives, such as rubber bands.
Recycle used office supplies whenever possible.
Buy and use recycled paper.
Save paper by not printing whenever possible. Put a prominent sign up in the office to remind users to print only when necessary.
Save paper by printing on both sides of a sheet of paper whenever possible.
Use your printer's eco-mode if it has one.
Do not have your printer set to come on whenever your computer or computer network comes on; instead, turn on your printer only when necessary.
Turn off your computer when not in use. It doesn't hurt it. Really!
Use "real" mugs, glasses, dishes and cutlery rather than disposables. It takes just seconds to wash a mug.
Use coffee filters that are made of recycled paper or even better, get a coffee maker that doesn't require paper filters.
Make sure your office has at least one large plant in it. They're not only green and pretty, but great for recycling the air.
Use email rather than faxing whenever possible to cut down on paper waste.
Print one copy of memos and other inter-office documents and circulate them rather than printing off a separate copy for everyone.

Tips for a Greener Spring:

Some of the greenest cleaners are the ones you make yourself. Here are some sample recipes for simple, effective cleaners:

Drain Cleaner: Pour a half-cup of baking soda down the sink and add at least a cup of vinegar. Cover the drain and wait a few minutes, then rinse with a mixture of boiling water and salt.
Window Cleaner: Mix two ounces of vinegar with a quart of water in a spray bottle.
Silver Polish: Put a sheet of aluminum foil into a plastic or glass bowl. Sprinkle the foil with salt and baking soda and fill the bowl with warm water. Soak your silver in the bowl and tarnish migrates to the foil. Dry and buff.
Brass Cleaner: Cut a lemon in half, sprinkle it with salt and rub the lemon on the metal. Buff with a cloth.
Rust Remover: Use vinegar to remove rust on nuts and bolts and other mineral deposits such as calcium deposits.

Quick Links

A General Store for the 21st Century:

The Green Store

A place to swap your stuff for points and swap you points for stuff:

Swap it

An online marketplace devoted to providing natural, organic, and sustainable lifestyle products while embracing style and aesthetic.

Nimli